Understanding cultural and linguistic barriers to health literacy.

Nurses today are providing care, education, and case management to an increasingly diverse patient population that is challenged with a triad of cultural, linguistic, and health literacy barriers. For these patients, culture and language set the context for the acquisition and application of health literacy skills. Yet the nursing literature offers minimal help in integrating cultural and linguistic considerations into nursing efforts to address patient health literacy.

The Equity and Quality (EQual) Health-Care Project: A Connecticut Health Foundation initiative with Qualidigm.

In response to the growing incidence and prevalence of diabetes, quality and disparity of care concerns, and the increasing diversity of the US and Connecticut's populations, the Connecticut Health Foundation funded Qualidigm to implement the Equity and Quality (EQual) Health-Care Project. Now in its second full year, the EQualHealth-CareProject is helping eight primary-care practices in Connecticut improve the equity and quality of diabetes care through technology, education, and quality improvement.